Almond Brook All Stars Nursery Ltd

Inspection of Almond Brook All Stars Nursery Ltd 234 Almond Brook Road, Standish, Wigan WN6 0SS

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Overall effectiveness Inadequate

The quality of education Inadequate Behaviour and attitudes Inadequate Personal development Inadequate Leadership and management Inadequate Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Not applicable

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The provision is inadequate

Children receive a poor standard of care and education at this nursery. In addition, they are not safeguarded effectively. The leader and staff do not have the knowledge they need to refer concerns about child protection. They fail to identify potential hazards and do not minimise risks to children. For example, deep stagnant water is accessible to children in the outdoor area. This means that children, especially crawling babies, are at risk of drowning. The hygiene arrangements do not support children's healthy development. During a recent environmental health inspection, mouse droppings were found in the baby room. The provider took action to rectify this. However, this demonstrates a disregard to maintaining a clean environment. Due to the closure of rooms, only one toilet and hand basin are available to children. This results in children having to wait too long to use the toilet. Therefore, they are at risk of having toileting accidents.

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The provision is inadequate

The quality of education is weak. There is insufficient ambition for what children should learn. Children's needs are not known or understood. Many children do not have a key person. As a result, staff do not know children well enough. This means that children are not receiving an individual, challenging and enjoyable learning experience. Despite this, children enjoy exploring the resources available. This keeps them reasonably occupied. Staff try to interact with them, but their knowledge of how to teach children effectively is limited. This means children are not making the progress they are capable of.

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need to do better?

n The leader, who is also the nominated individual, failed to notify Ofsted of a recent incident where a child was left unattended in the garden. In addition, the leader has not ensured that staff follow appropriate risk assessment procedures. Furthermore, the leader did not refer this matter to appropriate agencies. n The leader does not have an adequate understanding of her role as the designated safeguarding lead. Following recent concerns about staff, she did not contact the local authority designated officer (LADO). This compromises children's welfare. n The leader and manager do not ensure that all staff have a sufficient understanding of safeguarding policies and procedures. Therefore, concerns regarding children's welfare are not reported and addressed in a timely manner. These breaches to the requirements put children at significant risk of harm. n Staff do not identify potential hazards, which puts children at risk of accident

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need to do better?

and injury. For example, in the outdoor area, there are electrical cables and uneven decking. Indoors, sharp medical tweezers are left within reach of children. Staff took steps to remove the hazards once the inspector highlighted these concerns.

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need to do better?

29 November 2022 n Due to weaknesses in leadership and management, there have been recent changes in staffing. This has resulted in children not having a key person. As a result, new staff are building relationships with children but do not know them well enough. Therefore, they are unable to plan relevant learning opportunities for them. Despite this, staff show care and kindness to children by talking to them, smiling and offering hugs. n Staff do not promote language and communication well. Although staff sing songs and talk to children, they do not engage in high-quality conversations with them. Furthermore, they do not follow the interests of the child, often dominating conversations with their own thoughts and ideas. This results in children's efforts to communicate being hindered. n Children are not supported to become independent with their own care needs. The shortage of toileting and handwashing facilities prevents children from

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need to do better?

managing their own personal needs. In addition, children are not afforded suitable privacy when undergoing intimate care. This has a negative impact on their emotional well-being and self-confidence. n Staff do not help children to manage their feelings and behaviour. Children who are bored bang toys on the surfaces aimlessly. When children say unkind things to each other, staff do not address this appropriately. They request that children simply say 'sorry'. This does not help children learn about emotions and respect. n The leader has not ensured that what children learn is based on what they know and can do already. The learning intentions for babies are beyond their expected level of development. For example, staff teach children the names of animals before they have learned to say simple and familiar words. Children are not prepared for the next stage in their education.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective.

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Safeguarding

The culture of safeguarding throughout the setting is poor. The provider does not fully understand her role and responsibility to report any concerns about staff to the LADO. Furthermore, leaders and staff do not have a good enough understanding of how to safeguard children. They do not know how to follow the nursery policies and procedures, including the whistle-blowing policy, to ensure that all concerns about children or adults are acted on. This, together with the weaknesses in identifying and minimising hazards in the environment, compromises children's safety and welfare.

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Due date

ensure that all leaders and staff have up- to-date knowledge of safeguarding issues and are trained to understand the safeguarding policy and procedures, including whistle-blowing 20/12/2022

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Due date

ensure that risks to children are identified and minimised in a timely manner 20/12/2022

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Due date

provide an adequate number of toilets and hand basins to meet the care needs of all children and afford them privacy during their intimate care routines 20/12/2022

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Due date

ensure that all children are assigned a key person to ensure that the care and education provided are tailored to meet their needs 20/12/2022

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Due date

ensure that staff are provided with effective training, support and coaching to promote the quality of education 20/12/2022

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Due date

ensure the designated safeguarding lead has attended a child protection training course that enables them to identify, understand and respond appropriately to signs of possible abuse and neglect. 20/12/2022

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Due date

consider the individual learning needs of every child and plan a challenging and enjoyable experience to ensure children build on what they already know and can do. 20/01/2023

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2650170 Local authority Wigan Inspection number 10262714 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 26 Number of children on roll 26 Name of registered person Almond Brook All Stars Nursery Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01257 425888 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Almond Brook All Stars Nursery Ltd registered in 2021. The nursery employs seven members of childcare staff. Of these, two staff hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 5, and four staff hold a level 3. The nursery is open from Monday to Friday, all year round. Sessions are from 7.30am until 6pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the provider received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n We carried out this inspection as a result of a risk assessment, following information we received about the provider. n The inspector viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector spoke with the nominated individual/registered individual about the leadership and management of the setting. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n The manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the

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Inspection activities

suitability of staff working in the nursery. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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Inspection activities

We carried out this inspection under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 on the quality and standards of provision that is registered on the Early Years Register. The registered person must ensure that this provision complies with the statutory framework for children's learning, development and care, known as the early years foundation stage.

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Inspection activities

29 November 2022 regulates and inspects to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children's services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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